AllAboutTheJourney Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Just thought I'd start a thread for anyone thinking of applying this year. The annual thread has usually been a very helpful place to ask questions or share experiences. We've just taken the pics and will be applying today. Our experience with the JA programme has been very positive and I've had 2 children participate now. After a somewhat circuitous route, we are now applying for a Y6 place, as my second DC has decided to audition again after doing Y4 and then choosing not to do Y5 due to some logistical issues! All of that to explain that we've been through this process a fair few times now, as have others on the forum, so please feel free to ask any questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_ballet Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Don’t suppose you know how many dancers they take each year? Do they have strict numbers for each centre? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 I don't know how many in total across all the centres but the annual reports on the school website give the figures from a few years ago. In terms of strict numbers for each centre, no - it can be fluid and changes slightly from year to year. There will be a max number per class (and I imagine a minimum number to make the classes financially viable) but no, it's not a hard and fast number per centre in my experience. Some centres have one mixed age/sex group and others have several classes split by age and/or sex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissEmily Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 I have a Year 3 pupil auditioning this year. She has everything going for her...except turnout...so sadly I don't rate her chances, but the audition is an experience in itself! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet_dancer2020 Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 @AllAboutTheJourney interested you mentioned applying for a Y6 place. Are there really any available do you think? I was thinking that classes for that year group would already be mostly full from previous years and newbies would be lucky if there was even 1 or 2 places available. Is this how it works or is there more hope do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 There are often people who join in Y6 - new people joined our old centre each of the 3 years that my first DC was there, some from each year group. I can't speak for all the centres but often on this forum people get a Yes in Y5 or Y6 after a previous No or wait list. Always worth a shot if your DC is keen and you think they would enjoy the audition process! We always treat the audition as fun day out in itself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissEmily Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 @Ballet_dancer2020 A big YES! My (ex- and now very happily at full-time vocational ballet school) pupil got straight nos for JAs for Years 4 and 5 and a straight yes for Year 6. At her centre (Eastleigh) there's a separate class for Year 6s, so a few more spaces are available for entry in that year. She was chosen for some amazing opportunities during her year there, including being the only girl asked to demonstrate for a talk their teacher was giving, so there was no feeling of her being the underdog either, although she had a lot of catching up to do. Go for it, as @AllAboutTheJourneysaid, the audition is a wonderful experience in itself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet_dancer2020 Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Thank you @MissEmily and @AllAboutTheJourney for the encouraging feedback, that's really helpful thank you! I agree the audition process was fun last year and we made it a day out too so was a nice experience. DD is always keen - it's just my nerves that can't usually cope! I think will maybe let her try again though... 🤞 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_ballet Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 The girls always come out buzzing from the audition. My daughter got no first time (video application) and yes for year 5. She’s absolutely loving it. Make a fun day out of it, maybe visit the many dance shops around ( Dancia, Bloch, Pineapple) and of course the ROH shop. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_ballet Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 22 minutes ago, Ballet_dancer2020 said: Thank you @MissEmily and @AllAboutTheJourney for the encouraging feedback, that's really helpful thank you! I agree the audition process was fun last year and we made it a day out too so was a nice experience. DD is always keen - it's just my nerves that can't usually cope! I think will maybe let her try again though... 🤞 Waiting for results is painful! For us! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet_dancer2020 Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, Thelittleswans said: Waiting for results is painful! For us! For sure! 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissEmily Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Does anyone know if children on the Short Waiting List will be offered the online course this year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_ballet Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 As far as I was aware the online course is offered at same time as the in person classes. I’m not sure if you can get waitlist for online classes or the waitlist is for the in person classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhensMyDayOff Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 My daughter might audition next year - does everyone pay for professional photos?! On instagram (I know…) everyone seems to have done this but it seems overkill when I think her chances aren’t that great. Especially since they say they offer everyone an audition. Thanks! (long time lurker here!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prancer Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 You definitely don't need professional photos. But if you're not experienced in ballet yourself do make sure that you have a ballet teacher present when you take the photos to make sure that alignment and technique is as correct as it can be. RBS consistently tell parents not to pay for professional photos but still many do. My suspicion is that it is more for Instagram than anything else! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_ballet Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 No need for professional photos and if you meet requirements (age) everyone gets offered an opportunity to audition regardless of pictures 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhensMyDayOff Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 Thank you! That was my instinct too but it’s hard not to be swayed when there’s talk of ‘coaching’ during the photo sessions. She’d be going in for the experience mainly (although obviously not a completely implausible candidate) and would rather not over-egg the pudding… Also it says 8-10 but I assume that means 8-10 at the end of the school year. She’s a late summer birthday so would be 10 at this point in year 6 but I assume that’s too late for JAs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointeshoesarethedream Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 It goes on school years so if they are in year 5 now will apply for year 6 for September 2023 start. And if I were to show you our JA (non professional photos) you would laugh your socks off but we enjoyed 3 wonderful years as a JA and are now enjoying MAs. Enjoy the audition it’s a lovely experience. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing unicorn Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 Dd was July baby so always one of youngest in her 3 years of JA’s. If unsure on photos get your DD’s current teacher to take her photos in the studio! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhensMyDayOff Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 (edited) Thanks everyone! That’s really helpful and reassuring. Ballet insta is a bit terrifying sometimes. Edited March 11, 2023 by WhensMyDayOff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted March 11, 2023 Author Share Posted March 11, 2023 16 hours ago, MissEmily said: Does anyone know if children on the Short Waiting List will be offered the online course this year? I’m not sure but that seemed to be the way it worked last year I think. There were a few different groups doing the online classes. Interestingly, you can now put the online course as your first choice on the form when you apply (which will work well for some people if you can’t travel to a centre etc). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littledancer99 Posted March 12, 2023 Share Posted March 12, 2023 Does anyone know what is covered in the actual audition for JA's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share Posted March 13, 2023 18 hours ago, littledancer99 said: Does anyone know what is covered in the actual audition for JA's? It's a couple of years since one of my DC was at an in-person audition as the last time we applied it was online, but essentially it involves: - standing in different positions facing the panel, like standing (in bare feet) to the front, straight legs and in plie in first, then to the side and with bent knees (legs parallel). Sitting down with legs straight ahead, showing pointed feet and flexed feet. Pike fold, box splits, frogs I think- that kind of thing. - some barre work, including plies and tendus. - centre work including sautés and things like gallops and 'pony trots' from the corner. Spring points I think too. - improv, which involves listening to a piece of music and moving to it from a seated or kneeling position. Once year they were told to be seaweed, I think another year it was trees in the wind, that kind of thing. Someone will no doubt be able to say if it was significantly different last year. It's all fairly basic and they are looking for potential at this stage. It's quite a fun class I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise81 Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 So it looks like I am about to start the JA journey with DD2.......after spending 3 years travelling to JAs with dd1!!!! She is yr 3 and a very young one, but wants to do it as her older sister did. Time to get the photos done! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise81 Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 Random question.....has anyone had a dc at vocational school.paying fees with MDS, and then a second dc on JA scheme.......any discount allowance for the fact you were paying vocational fees? Or am I wishing too much?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 I think you might be wishing too much, sadly! But do let me know if you manage it 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise81 Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 It's just that I remember on the form for Northern CAT scheme, they used to ask if you had another child at vocational school etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littledancer99 Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 is the elmhurst young dancer programme good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfriends Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Can anybody tell me what time classes start and end if successful? We are auditioning for Birmingham first choice, and have put Manchester as second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointeshoesarethedream Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 2 hours ago, Balletfriends said: Can anybody tell me what time classes start and end if successful? We are auditioning for Birmingham first choice, and have put Manchester as second. Not sure of exact times in Manchester but they are def afternoon as Mids finishes at 11.30am so one of the JA classes starts after that. The JAs are collected before mids comes out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing unicorn Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Manchester ja’s when we were there was morning - yr 6 afternoon - yr 4 & 5 💗 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointeshoesarethedream Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 29 minutes ago, Dancing unicorn said: Manchester ja’s when we were there was morning - yr 6 afternoon - yr 4 & 5 💗 It’s definitely changed now as Mids are morning this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise81 Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Are photos to be taken in shoes and socks or bare feet? I know the website says bare legs with shoes and socks, but dds ballet teacher really wants to them in bare feet. Does it matter? I can't remember what we did last time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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